The Presidential Daily Brief

intriguing

Russians Rally Against Internet Restrictions

Chanting slogans like “Hands off the internet” and “No to isolation,” thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Moscow yesterday to decry a new bill they believe will tighten state control over the web. Supporters say the measure would create a “sovereign internet” free from foreign cyberthreats, but activists claim it’s part of an ongoing crackdown on opposition politics.

Is the internet politicized in Russia? Sites like YouTube — visited by 82 percent of 18- to 44-year-old Russians — have become an increasingly important rallying point for opposition activists, especially while traditional media tends to toe the state line.